COAS Orders Troops To Crush Terrorists Without Mercy

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed Nigerian commanding officers and soldiers to eliminate terrorists without hesitation, vowing that no mercy should be shown in defending the country’s territorial integrity.

Oluyede issued the directive on Friday in Maiduguri while officially closing the Nigerian Army’s first Biannual Conference for 2025.

The three-day event brought together top army generals to strategize on enhancing national security and peace.

“There is no contesting our decision to completely neutralise these detractors to peace,” the army chief declared.
“I charge each and every officer and soldier to spare no quarter in running these terrorists and criminals to the ground. They seek to disrupt our way of life and destroy the society our forefathers built. We will not allow such to happen.”

He emphasised that the military must fully implement the strategic decisions made during the conference to address prevailing security threats.

“As a fallout of our deliberations, we will, in the coming weeks, induct more combat enablers into our operations,” Oluyede announced.

While acknowledging the importance of equipment, the COAS stressed that the true strength of the Nigerian Army lies in the willpower and leadership of its personnel.

“Our strength lies not only in the weapons we deploy, but in the resolve of our soldiers who wield them,” he said. “It is the responsibility of all officers to demonstrate leadership and mentor the next generation.”

Oluyede also described the current threat posed by terrorists as an attack on Nigeria’s socio-cultural fabric, warning that the enemy seeks to unravel the country’s heritage.

He praised the conference for its “intellectual rigour and strategic foresight,” stating that the depth of ideas shared exceeded expectations and would help guide future operations.